Corn-planter



(No Model.)

A. u FOX. CORN PLANTER.

Patented pr.3,1883.

NITED STATES i PATENT Ferca ALPHEUS FOK, OF RCK FALLS, ILLlNOIS.

CoRN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.`2'7`4,928, dated April 3c; 1883.

' Application filed November 11, 1882.. (No model.)

To all 'whom it mag/concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHEUs Fox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Falls, in the county of Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot the invention, such as will enable others'skilled in the art to which it ap pertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and

to letters or iigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention belongs to that class of cornplanters in which two rows are planted at one time and the hills are deposited in cross-rows or checks; and my invention has more especial reference, first, to certain improvements in the dropping mechanism, and, second, the devices for raising or forcing down the front frame and locking the front and rear frames in certain relative of planting. l ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the plates constituting the dropping mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detached View ofthe devices for raising, lowering, and locking the front frame on the rear frame.

A is the ordinary front frame of atwohorse corn-planter. `B is the rear frame. The front frame is carried on the furrow openers or runners A' A', and the rear frameon the carrying andcovering wheels B B.

C is the usual reciprocating bar operated by the hand-lever D, or in the usual way by an automatic check-rower.

Eis a circular plate, provided on its upper surface with a circular series of five short vertical equidistant studs a.

A slot, lw, is formed in the bar C, through which the upper end of the vertical axle c of the plate E passes, the purpose of such slot` being to permit the reciprocal action of the bar C.

On the lower surface of that part of the bar C which plays over the plate E are affixed two cams, b b', ofthe form of an isosceles triangle or a halfdiamond. The outer cam, b', is placed near the end of the bar C, with its point or apex inward, and the other cam, b', is placed positions to regulate the depth v with its apex outward at a distance inward from the irstlcam b of a little'less than the diameter 0 of the plate E. The purpose ofthe cams b is to give a revolving motion to the plate E by engaging alternately the studs c thereon. The studs a, are placed at such intervals, and the cams b are ,of such size and shape, as that when the point of each cam b" l When the bar C is moved in the opposite direction, the other cam, b,repeats the operation just described. Ot course one pair ot' cams b are placed at each end of the bar C.

The vertical axle c ot' the plate is journaled at its lower end in the beam F, and at its upper end in the plate G, which constitutes the bottom of the seed-box. The plate Ghas the hole d for the passage of the seed, such hole falling outside ofthe plate Fu so that the seed can drop past the latter into the vertical seedtube H. r,

K is the rotating" seed-plate,provided with the annular series of seed-cups e, such seedcups being double in number of the studs a on the plate E. The plate K has a square hole in its center, which lits overthe upper end of the axle c of the plate E, such axle being shaped to conform to such hole and causing the plate K to rotate synchronically with the plate E. At each intermittant rotation ot' the plate thel seed-cups e successively register with the hole-cl in the plate G, so as todischarge the seed.

L is aout-oli' plate, placed over the seedplate K,`and provided with the annular slot M above the series of' seedcupsc, which directs the graininto such cups and ,insures their lling. The slot M is crossed at different intervals by the several cut-offs f, which assist in uniformly filling the seed-cups e by adjusting the kernels/of corn therein.

The tube H has a pivoted back, g, which is suitably connected at the top to the bar C and ,e mamas nels in the tube H, with the ordinary shelf at the bottom. I remove the upper part of the hack g, leaving the hole i, through which the descending corn can be seen by the operator.

The mechanism employed to regulate the altitude of the front frame is as follows: The frames A and B are hinged together at their point ofjunction in any suitable way. -A bar, N, fastened under the center of the frame A, extends nearly or quite in aline with the tongue back under thel center of the frame B. Tothe rear end ot' the harN is attached a cord or chain, lr, which passes up and over a pulley, Z, set transversely of the machine on the front side ofthe standard m of the drivers seat P, and is attached to the lever R on the opposite side of such standard. rI he lever R is hinged at its front end to the front crossheaui ot' the frame B, and the rear ends of boththe bar N and lever It are provided with suitable rests for the drivers feet, and placed convenient for the driver to rest one foot von each. lt is obvious that when the rear end of the bar N is pressed down it will have the efi'ect of forcing the runners A ot' the front frame into the ground, and at the same time, through the medium ot' the cord k, raise the rear end ofthe lever It. By forcing the lever It downward a contrary result will be obtained, and the runners lifted out ot' and above the ground, as may be desired. On the bar N, and in close proximity to the cross-beam S, on which the seat-standard vm is seated, is placed a vertical standard, T, having a series ot' notches, n, on its side. A short horizontally-oscillating lever, v, is pivoted on the top ofthe beam S, in suoli position that its inner end may he forced in or out of the notches n at the will ot' the driver. By this means the frames A and B may be held at any relative height, and the front frame be held clear off the ground in turning around or going to and from the field. Y

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

l. The reciprocating bar C, having the slot w and cams b', in combination with the rotating plate E, provided on its upper surface with the annular series of studs a, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

2. The bar N, cord k, standard in, provided with the pulley l, and lever R, in combination, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

3. The bar N, attached to the front frame, l

A, the lever It, i'ulcrumed to the rear frame, B, and such bar and lever connected by aeord or chain, 7.".,Whereby the downward movement of' the bar produces a contrary movement ot' the lever, and vice versa, and the relative altitudes of the frames A and B are changed and regulated, substantially as shown, and for the purpose herein named.

4. The bar N, affixed to the front frame, A, the lever B, fulcrumed to the rear frame, B, the standard m, having the pulley l, the cord h, the standard T, having` the notches a, and the lever a, in combination, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified. Y

5. The front frame, A, having the bar N, and standard T, having the notches n, and the rear frame, B, having the lever e, in combination, substantially as shown, and for the pur.- pose mentioned .Y

6. The tube H, having at its upper end the hole i, through which the descending corn can be seen, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereofI aliix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALPHEUS FOX.

XVitnesses WILLIAM MANAHAN, THEoDoRE H, MACK. 

